Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-11-12
PASTE THIS IN YOUR BIBLE.
Genesis 81" a Spurious Chapter of Re-
mote Persian Origin.

mote Persian Origin.
Over 100 years ago the following So
called Genesis 81 was used, says the
Albany Journal, to puzzle Biblical
scholars, and to-day, were it read
aloud in any mixed company, it is
que stiensble if its fraudulent nature
would be discovered, SO beautifully is
the spirit and language Of the Old Tes-
lament initiated:
First-And il came to pass after
these things that Abraham sat in the
door of his tent about the going down
CT the sun.
Secondhand behold a man, bowed
down with age, came from the way of
the wilderness, leaning on his staff.
Third-And Abraham arose and met
him, and said unto him: Turn in, /
pray thee, and wash thy feet and tarry
all night, and thou shalt arise early on
the morrow and 60 thy way.
Fourth-But the man said: Nay, for
l will abide under this tree.
Fifth--And Abraham pressed him
greatly; SO he turned, and they went
into the tent, and Abraham baked un-
ieavened bread, and they did eat.
Slxth-And when Abraham saw that
A.. x.o~ lloo.,I .at I'D ha sold unto
him: Wherefore dost thou not wor-
ship the most high God, creator OF
heaven and earth.
Seventh-ADd the man answered and
said: / do not worship the God that
thou speakest of; neither do | call
upon his name; for | have made TO my
self a God which abideth always in my
house and provideth me with all
things.
Eighth-And Abraham's zeal was
kindlsd against the man, and he arose
and drove him forth with blows into
the wilderness.
Ninth-And at midnight God called
INTO Abraham, saying: Abraham,
where is the stranger?
Tenth-And Abraham answered and
said: Lord, he would not worship
Thee, neither would he call upon Thy
name, and therefore have ! driven him
out from before my face into the wilder
ness.
Eleventh-And God said: Have !
not borne with him these hundred
ninety and eight years, and nourisbed
him, and clothed him, Notwithstanding
his rebellion against me, and couldst
not thou, that art myself sinner, bear
with him IL night.
Twelfth-Apd Abraham said: Let
not the anger of my Lord "a against
His servant; 10! | have sinned, forgive
me, | pray Thee.
Thirteenth-And Abraham arose and
went forth into the wilderness and
sought diligently for the man, and
found him and reformed with him to
the tent, and when he had entertained
him kindly, he sent him away on the
morrow with gifts.
Fourteenth-And God spoke again
unto Abraham, saying: For this thy
sin shall thy seed be afflicted 400 years
in II strange land.
Fifteenth-But for thy repentance
will / deliver them, and they shall
come forth with power and with glad
ness of heart, and with much sub
stance.
In 1859, when in England as agent
for TIE colony of Pennsylvania, Benja-
min Franklin privately printed this
"chapter," as he always termed it.
Taking only a sheet of paper, he kept
it laid in his Bible at the end of Gene
sis, and used to amse himself by read
ing it aloud to his friends apd hearing
them express their surprise that they
had never recollected reading it, and
they openly expressed admiration OF
the moral it carried with 1t. Its origin
is unknown. 1t has been tracked
700 years to a Persian poet, who slmp,
ly says ait vas so related" 1t must
be very old.